Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 43518:  USS Perkins returning from a Fleet cruise, 28 April 1938

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Perkins (DD-377), 1936-1943

USS Perkins, a 1480-ton Mahan class destroyer built by the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, was commissioned in September 1936. In the years prior to World War II she operated with the Scouting Force and the Battle Force, primarily in the eastern Pacific. Following brief convoy escort service in late 1941 and early 1942, Perkins was sent to the southwest Pacific to help defend Australia and New Zealand. Early in May 1942 she participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea and at month's end was present when Japanese midget submarines attacked Sydney harbor, Australia. Perkins remained in the southern Pacific until August 1942, when she went to Hawaii for repairs, returning in time to take part in the late November Battle of Tassafaronga off Guadalcanal.

In May 1943, after further combat service in the Guadalcanal area, Perkins joined forces then preparing for offensive operations against Japanese positions on the north shore of New Guinea. From August into October she was involved in the campaign to recapture Lae, Salamaua and Finschhafen, using her guns to shell the enemy ashore and screening invasion shipping. On 29 November 1943, while steaming off northeastern New Guinea, USS Perkins was rammed and sunk by the Australian troopship Duntroon. Four of her crew lost their lives in this tragic accident.

USS Perkins was named in honor of Commodore George H. Perkins (1836-1899).

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Perkins (DD-377).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 91865

USS Perkins
(DD-377)

In port during the 1930s.
This view may have been taken at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa Autumn 1936, when the ship was completed.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74276

USS Perkins
(DD-377)

Steaming through heavy seas, 27 August 1937.
Photographed from the stern of another destroyer.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74321

USS Perkins
(DD-377)

Underway in harbor (probably at San Diego, California), 1 November 1937.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74322

USS Perkins
(DD-377)

At anchor on 18 April 1938, with USS Flusser (DD-368) in the right background.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43518

USS Perkins
(DD-377)

Returning from a Fleet cruise, 28 April 1938.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 68329

USS Perkins
(DD-377)

Underway, circa the later 1930s.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-266837

USS Perkins
(DD-377)

Photographed from USS Tangier (AV-8) in a south Pacific harbor, 25 February 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


USS Perkins (DD-377) is seen in the background the the following photographs of other subjects:

Photo #: 80-G-1031563

Destroyers underway in San Diego Harbor, California, 1938


Identifiable ships are:
USS Drayton (DD-366), at left;
USS Preston (DD-379), at right; and
USS Perkins (DD-377), in center, partially masked by Preston.
Note colored bands painted on these destroyer's after smokestacks, possibly for unit identification purposes.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-5129

Northrup BT-1 bomber (Bureau # 0640)
,
(Bombing Squadron Five's plane number 5-B-16)

Upside down and sinking after going over the side of USS Yorktown (CV-5) during flight operations in the Pacific, 23 July 1940.
USS Perkins (DD-377) is coming up at right to rescue the plane's crew, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas D. Cummins (Pilot) and Radioman Third Class Donald MacKillop.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


In addition to the image presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of USS Perkins (DD-377). The following list features this image:

The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."



  • Photo #: 80-G-456256
    USS Perkins (DD-377) in port, circa the later 1930s.
    Starboard bow (rather toward the broadside) surface view. This ship is moving very slowly, if at all.

    Reproductions of this images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 17 September 2004